Blue Jackets News

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Sean Monahan  • C  •  Blue Jackets

Sean Monahan Delivers Two Assists In Victory Over Penguins

Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan sent out two assists in Friday's 6-2 victory over Pittsburgh. He came up with key plays in the third period, helping his team turn a tight game into a big win. With the effort, Monahan put a stop to a four-game scoring drought. Monahan has been quiet in recent games, but he's having a fine campaign as Columbus' first-line center, sitting on 13 points (six goals, seven assists) through 16 outings. The veteran forward now has a revenge game on his horizon as the Blue Jackets visit Montreal on Saturday.
4 days ago   
Dante Fabbro  • D  •  Blue Jackets

Dante Fabbro Makes Blue Jackets Debut Tuesday

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro will make his team debut in Tuesday's matchup against Seattle. The 26-year-old was picked up from waivers at the weekend. He was limited to six appearances with the Nashville Predators this season and hasn't seen any action in November. Fabbro has logged 72 points (16 goals, 56 assists) in 315 career games with 417 shots, 477 blocks, and 317 hits. He hasn't been a good fantasy option, but Fabbro should add some quality to a fragile Blue Jackets defense that allows 3.50 goals per game. He will skate with Jack Johnson on the third defensive pairing, replacing Jordan Harris in the lineup.
Nov 12   
Kirill Marchenko  • RW  •  Blue Jackets

Kirill Marchenko Tallies Two Points Sunday

Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko picked up a goal and an assist in Sunday's 4-2 loss to Anaheim, logging his fifth multi-point outing of the season. Marchenko helped Yegor Chinakhov to score a power-play goal and lit the lamp himself in an even-strength situation. Skating in his 151st career game, the Russian forward became the second-fastest player in Blue Jackets history to score 50 goals for the team. Six of the goals have come this season, with Marchenko also producing nine assists in 14 games. The Blue Jackets appear to be heading nowhere, but in Marchenko, they boast a big scoring threat who is averaging over a point per game.
Nov 11   
Dante Fabbro  • D  •  Blue Jackets

Dante Fabbro Claimed By Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets have claimed defenseman Dante Fabbro off waivers from the Nashville Predators. Fabbro, a former first-round pick, was waived by Nashville on Saturday after he became redundant on the team. The 26-year-old has featured just six times this season, last skating on Oct. 28 versus Tampa Bay. Fabbro has no points to show for his efforts this season and amassed a minus-three rating while averaging 13:06 of ice time. He figures to play a larger role with the Blue Jackets, although it's safe to leave Fabbro on the waiver wire in fantasy leagues.
Nov 10   
Kevin Labanc  • RW  •  Blue Jackets

Kevin Labanc Will Be A Healthy Scratch On Sunday

Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kevin Labanc will be a healthy scratch on Sunday versus Anaheim. He will exit the lineup after posting six points (one goal, five assists) in 10 games. Labanc was on fire during the preseason and enjoyed a productive start with the Blue Jackets, but he has gone scoreless in back-to-back games while logging limited ice time. James van Riemsdyk will rejoin the action against the Ducks after sitting as a healthy scratch on Saturday versus Los Angeles. The 16-year veteran has produced two goals and four points in 11 appearances this season. He is no longer at his best, and fantasy managers should avoid van Riemsdyk.
Nov 10   
James van Riemsdyk  • LW  •  Blue Jackets

James van Riemsdyk Sits As Healthy Scratch On Saturday

Columbus Blue Jackets left wing James van Riemsdyk will be a healthy scratch on Saturday versus Los Angeles. The veteran has struggled to make a mark and was also a healthy scratch for one game earlier in the month. He has collected four points (two goals, two assists) in 11 appearances. Zach Aston-Reese will replace van Riemsdyk on the fourth line. The 30-year-old has matched van Riemsdyk's offensive numbers this season, but Aston-Reese plays a more physical game and has produced a higher number of shots on goal.
Nov 9   
Dmitri Voronkov  • LW  •  Blue Jackets

Dmitri Voronkov Ready For Season Debut Friday

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov (upper-body) is set to make his season debut on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. Voronkov missed the first nine games of the season after suffering an upper-body injury in the final game of the preseason. The 24-year-old had a solid rookie season last year, notching 34 points (18 goals, 16 assists) in 75 games for the Jackets. Voronkov could slide into a top-six role and become a viable streamer at some point, but for now he can be avoided in all fantasy formats.
Nov 1   
Elvis Merzlikins  • G  •  Blue Jackets

Elvis Merzlikins Celebrates First Shutout Of The Season Wednesday

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins stopped the Islanders from scoring on Wednesday, picking up his first shutout of the season with 26 saves in a 2-0 win. The Latvian netminder has now saved 57 of 58 shots across his last two starts since returning to the lineup from a lower-body injury. Merzlikins improved to 2-2-0 on Wednesday and has a 2.05 goals-against average for the season with a .925 save percentage. The next time he heads out, Merzlikins will be battling for his first three-game winning streak in three seasons.
Oct 31   
Erik Gudbranson  • D  •  Blue Jackets

Erik Gudbranson Out Indefinitely Following Shoulder Surgery

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson will be out indefinitely after having shoulder surgery. He underwent the procedure on Monday. Gudbranson hurt his right shoulder last week in a game against Florida when he collided with teammate Sean Monahan. The big blue-liner lacks fantasy value, but he plays an important role for the Blue Jackets in defense and on the penalty kill. Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason said several players have to "step up" to compensate for Gudbranson's loss. David Jiricek has been Gudbranson's replacement in the lineup. He has notched one assist with one block and two hits in his first two outings of the campaign.
Oct 24   
Kent Johnson  • C  •  Blue Jackets

Kent Johnson To Miss Time With An Upper-Body Injury

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson (upper body) is expected to be out for a while. Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason told reporters on Saturday morning that Johnson's injury is not short-term. Johnson was hurt versus Buffalo on Thursday and will miss his first game of the season on Saturday when the Blue Jackets host Minnesota. Before getting injured, the 22-year-old was off to an excellent start to the season, notching five points (two goals, three assists) in four games. Johnson's absence will give Zach Aston-Reese an opportunity to impress in a top-six role on Saturday. He collected his first point of the season with the game-winning goal in Thursday's 6-4 victory over Buffalo.
Oct 19   
Yegor Chinakhov  • RW  •  Blue Jackets

Yegor Chinakhov Available On Saturday

Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Yegor Chinakhov (lower body) will play against Minnesota on Saturday. There was a question mark hanging over Chinakhov after he was hurt in the previous game and didn't participate in Friday's practice, but the Russian winger isn't forced to miss any games. It's great news for the Blue Jackets, as Chinakhov has been one of the team's best players early in the campaign. With four games played, Chinakhov has tallied two goals and four assists, sharing Columbus' scoring lead with Kirill Marchenko. However, Saturday's matchup is a tough one for Chinakhov and the rest of the Blue Jackets' frontline against a team that is tied for the sixth-best defensive record in the league.
Oct 19   
Kent Johnson  • C  •  Blue Jackets

Kent Johnson Faces Spell On Sidelines With An Upper-Body Injury

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson sustained an upper-body injury in Thursday's matchup against Buffalo and could be out for a while. He was involved in a collision with teammate James van Riemsdyk and appeared to have hurt his left arm/hand. Blue Jackets head coach Dave Evason said after the game Johnson's injury "didn't look good." The 22-year-old is set to undergo further evaluation on Friday. The Blue Jackets have already lost defenseman Erik Gudbranson (upper body) in a similar incident this week. Johnson has had a great start to the campaign with five points (two goals, three assists) in four games and joined the top-six for Thursday's action. His injury will allow Kevin Labanc to draw back into the lineup. Labanc collected assists in back-to-back games before being scratched on Thursday in favor of Justin Danforth, who made his season debut.
Oct 18   
Justin Danforth  • RW  •  Blue Jackets

Justin Danforth Set For Season Debut Versus Sabres

Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Justin Danforth (wrist) is poised to make his season debut in Thursday's matchup against Buffalo. He missed the first three contests of the season following offseason wrist surgery. Danforth will skate with Mikael Pyyhtia and Cole Sillinger on the third line, with Kent Johnson jumping to the second line. Kevin Labanc will make way in the lineup, sitting out the game as a healthy scratch. Danforth has 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 71 games with the Blue Jackets, including four points in the final two games. He certainly has some offensive ability and could do damage against a defensively fragile and tired team that played last night in Pittsburgh.
Oct 17   
Elvis Merzlikins  • G  •  Blue Jackets

Elvis Merzlikins Out With An Upper-Body Injury

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is expected to miss some time with an upper-body injury. The team announced that he will be out "short-term." It was initially reported that Merzlikins simply needed rest and would get a few days off. The Latvian netminder has endured another rough stretch to start the 2024-25 campaign, losing each of his first two starts and giving up seven goals while producing a .854 save percentage. The Blue Jackets have recalled Jet Greaves from the minors, with Daniil Tarasov likely getting the nod for Thursday's battle against Buffalo.
Oct 16   
Erik Gudbranson  • D  •  Blue Jackets

Erik Gudbranson Suffers An Upper-Body Injury In Tuesday's Loss

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson suffered an upper-body injury in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to Florida. He exited the game near the end of the second period following a collision with teammate Sean Monahan. Gudbranson appeared to be holding his right arm. "I can tell you, it doesn't look good," Blue Jackets head coach Dave Evason said abound Gudbranson's injury. It looks like the punishing blue-liner will be forced to miss some time because of the injury. Gudbranson sits on three blocks and three hits through two games this season. David Jiricek is the likeliest candidate to fill in for him on Columbus' third defensive pairing. Jiricek has more offensive upside, but it will be difficult for him to make an impact with limited minutes on the bottom pairing.
Oct 16   
Zach Aston-Reese  • C  •  Blue Jackets

Zach Aston-Reese Ready To Go Tuesday

Columbus Blue Jackets center Zach Aston-Reese (upper body) is expected to play on Tuesday versus Florida. He logged only 34 seconds of action last time out versus Colorado due to an upper-body injury. However, Aston-Reese skated with the team Tuesday morning and appears ready to play against the Panthers. Aston-Reese logged 7:33 of ice time on the fourth line in Columbus' season opener against Minnesota. He's a valued grinder but offers next to nothing in fantasy hockey.
Oct 15   
Daniil Tarasov  • G  •  Blue Jackets

Daniil Tarasov Faces Avalanche On Saturday

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Daniil Tarasov will get the nod for Saturday's tough road matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. He'll head to work for the first time this season following Elvis Merzlikins' exploits in Thursday's 3-2 loss to Minnesota. Playing on a struggling team, Tarasov has had very little joy in his NHL career, going 12-24-4 across 42 starts. He has registered a 3.39 goals-against average with a .905 save percentage. This promises to be another long night for Tarasov, although he beat the Avalanche with a 45-save effort last season and takes on a team that's missing multiple important offensive pieces.
Oct 12   
Justin Danforth  • RW  •  Blue Jackets

Justin Danforth Returns To Full Practice

Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Justin Danforth (wrist) went through full practice on Friday and should be ready for his season debut soon. The 31-year-old has been recovering from wrist surgery and missed Thursday's season opener against Minnesota. However, he could be back in action as soon as Saturday when the Blue Jackets face Colorado on the road. Danforth posted 10 goals and 26 points in 71 games last season. He practiced on the fourth line on Friday but could end up in a much more significant role, as the Blue Jackets have already lost multiple forwards to injuries.
Oct 12   
Dmitri Voronkov  • LW  •  Blue Jackets

Dmitri Voronkov Expected To Return By The End Of November

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov (upper body) does not require surgery and is expected to be back by the end of November. Voronkov suffered an upper-body injury in a preseason game last week. The 24-year-old had 34 points (18 goals, 16 assists) in 75 games during his rookie campaign last season. Columbus kicks off the campaign on Thursday versus Minnesota, with Boone Jenner (shoulder) and Justin Danforth (wrist) also missing from the attack. This will give fresh signing Kevin Labanc a top-six role, while veteran James van Riemsdyk also has a chance to impress as a second-line piece.
Oct 10   
Boone Jenner  • C  •  Blue Jackets

Boone Jenner To Miss Most Of Season

Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (shoulder) underwent surgery on Wednesday and will be out for 5-6 months. He injured his shoulder in practice last week. The team is hopeful of getting Jenner back before the end of the season, with general manager Don Waddell mentioning Columbus' outdoor game against Detroit on March 1 as a potential target date for Jenner. With Jenner sidelined, Sean Monahan is expected to take on first-line center duties in Thursday's season opener against the Minnesota Wild.
Oct 10   
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